# Michelle Morris, LPC — Couples Therapy (Full Content) > Evidence-based Imago couples therapy and individual counseling with Michelle Morris, LPC. Licensed in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and California. 30+ years of clinical experience helping high-functioning couples break repetitive conflict patterns and build genuine connection. ## About Michelle Morris Michelle Morris is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Georgia and Pennsylvania and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California. She is a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist with over 30 years of clinical experience. She serves as a clinical reviewer for Deeper Global, an AI-readable mental health knowledge platform, where she contributes clinical perspective on Imago Relationship Therapy and couples conflict patterns. Philosophy: "I don't rescue people. I teach them to see clearly." Therapy is about developing the capacity to face what is actually happening — individually and in relationships — and learning the skills to change it. Credentials: - Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) — Georgia - Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) — Pennsylvania - Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) — California - Certified Imago Relationship Therapist — Imago Relationships International - Member, IMAGO International; leading member, GRITS (Georgia Regional Imago Therapists of the Southeast) - Clinical reviewer, Deeper Global (https://www.deeper.global/reviewers/michelle-morris-lpc/) Areas of expertise: Imago Relationship Therapy, Couples Therapy, Trauma Therapy, Brain Spotting, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), ADHD, Anxiety, Depression. ## Services - Imago Couples Therapy — 75-minute sessions, $375. Structured, evidence-based method grounded in neuroscience and attachment theory. Helps couples see what's actually driving conflict — not the surface arguments, but the deeper dynamics underneath. - Individual Counseling — 60-minute sessions, $250. Anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD using CBT, ACT, IFS, and Brain Spotting. - Free 20-minute initial consultation. - Insurance: In-network in Pennsylvania with Highmark and UPMC. Out-of-network in Georgia and California — superbills provided for possible reimbursement. - Payment: Zelle and Venmo preferred (no fees); Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover accepted with courtesy fees. - Sliding scale available on a case-by-case basis. - Sessions offered in-person in Sandy Springs, GA and via HIPAA-compliant telehealth for clients located in GA, PA, or CA. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How do I schedule my first appointment? Book a free 20-minute consultation. During this call we discuss your situation, answer questions, and determine fit. No intake forms required for the initial conversation. ### Do you offer virtual sessions? Yes. Telehealth video sessions are available via a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform, providing the same quality of care as in-person sessions. ### What states are you licensed in? California (CA), Georgia (GA), and Pennsylvania (PA). At least one partner must be located in one of these states for couples therapy. ### What is Imago Relationship Therapy? Imago is a form of couples therapy developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt. It helps partners understand the unconscious factors that drew them together — specifically our early experiences with caregivers and how we learn to shut down parts of ourselves to receive more pleasure and less pain. Imago teaches structured dialogue techniques to create deeper connection, transforming conflict into opportunities for healing and growth. ### How long are therapy sessions? Imago couples therapy sessions are 75 minutes. Individual therapy sessions are 60 minutes. ### How often will we meet? Most clients begin weekly to build momentum, then transition to biweekly or monthly. ### How long does therapy typically take? Couples therapy is often 12–20 sessions, though some see significant improvement in 8–10. Individual therapy length depends on complexity. ### What are your session fees? Couples therapy (75 min): $375. Individual therapy (60 min): $250. Initial consultation is complimentary. ### Do you accept insurance? In-network with Highmark and UPMC in Pennsylvania. Out-of-network in Georgia and California — superbills provided; many PPO plans reimburse 50–80% of session fees. ### Do you offer a sliding scale? Yes, for clients who demonstrate financial need. ### Do both partners need to attend couples therapy? Yes. Both partners should attend all couples therapy sessions. ### What if my partner doesn't want to come to therapy? The free consultation is low-pressure and often helps. Individual therapy can also help you develop communication skills and self-awareness; often one partner's change opens the door for the other. ### Is therapy confidential? Yes. Standard legal exceptions apply (imminent danger to self or others, suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult). ## Articles and Podcast Interviews ### What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness Robert Waldinger's TED talk on the 75-year Harvard Study of Adult Development. The clearest predictor of a happy, healthy life isn't wealth or fame — it's the quality of our relationships. Living in warm, secure connection is protective; high-conflict, disconnected relationships predict physical decline as powerfully as smoking or obesity. Investing in your partnership is one of the most important investments you will make. ### Untangling Your Attachment Style — Behind the Swipe Podcast Michelle joins Hoyt Prisock to explore how earliest bonds influence adult love and connection. Covers Imago Relationship Therapy, the transition from childhood patterns to adult relationships, strategies for anxious and avoidant tendencies, and how attachment styles play out in professional life as well as romance. ### Stop Making Assumptions: The Biggest Problem in Couples Therapy Assumptions are the silent killer of communication. They are individual constructs — you're operating from your own history and nervous system rather than shared reality. The antidote is presence and direct questions: tolerating the discomfort of not knowing and choosing curiosity over certainty. ### Childhood Trauma Is Not Always Abuse: Recognizing Different Levels of Emotional Wounds Trauma is indicated on many levels — emotionally unavailable parents, households where conflict was never addressed, being the "good child" who suppressed needs. Unaddressed non-abuse trauma often creates "comfortable dysfunction": adaptations that limit adult intimacy. Structured assessment helps clients recognize patterns and understand how their reactions in intimate relationships make sense. ### Are You Ready to Rip the Band-Aid Off? Moving Past Comfortable Dysfunction Couples get stuck on a "merry-go-round of comfortable dysfunction." Change won't come by osmosis — reading books or hoping your partner changes won't create movement. Short-term discomfort in service of long-term relational health is the exchange required. ### Your Brain's Operating System: How Childhood Wiring Controls Adult Relationships The brain is a pattern-recognition machine. Relational behaviors are learned survival adaptations installed through repetition in childhood — they became automatic before the frontal lobe fully formed. Reprogramming is possible through conscious, repeated new choices. ### Vulnerability Is Not Weakness: Why Reluctance to Be Present Harms Your Relationships Reluctance to be vulnerable prevents partners from actually knowing you — you may be admired for a curated version of yourself while the real you remains hidden. Vulnerability doesn't happen automatically with age; it requires intention. Real connection requires staying present when every instinct says to pull back. ### Breaking the Conflict Cycle: Why You Keep Having the Same Fight The recurring fight is never really about dishes, money, or in-laws. Surface content is the trigger; underneath are unmet attachment needs and childhood wounds being activated. The pursuer/withdrawer dance was choreographed before you met. Exiting the loop requires a meta-conversation — stepping outside the fight to observe it, then shifting from combat to collaboration. ## Contact - Phone: 814-932-1120 - Email: michellemorrislpc@gmail.com - Office: 6000 Lake Forrest Drive, Suite 400, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 - Website: https://michellemorrislpc.com - Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ## Pages - Home: https://michellemorrislpc.com/ - About: https://michellemorrislpc.com/about - Services: https://michellemorrislpc.com/services - New Clients: https://michellemorrislpc.com/new-clients - Answers (articles + podcasts): https://michellemorrislpc.com/answers - FAQ: https://michellemorrislpc.com/faq - Contact: https://michellemorrislpc.com/contact